Open Government Guide

Author

Foreword

Open Records. Rhode Island enacted its open records statute, the Access to Public Records Act ("APRA"), R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 38-2-1 et seq., in 1979, making it the forty-ninth state to pass such legislation. The APRA was substantially amended in 1991 and 1998.

Prior to the passage of the APRA, the common law gave a right of inspection of public records to only those persons who “ha[d] an interest therein which was such as would enable them to maintain or defend an action for which the document or record sought could furnish evidence or necessary information.” Daluz v. Hawksley, 116 R.I. 49, 351 A.2d 820 (1976).

The preamble of the APRA supplies a clear statement of its legislative intent. It reads:

The public's right to access to public records and the individual's right to dignity and privacy are both recognized to be principles of the utmost importance in a free society. The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate public access to public records. It is also the intent of this chapter to protect from disclosure information about particular individuals maintained in the files of public bodies when disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-1 (1998).

In Providence Journal Co. v. Sundlun, 616 A.2d 1131 (R.I. 1992), the court held that the underlying policy of the Act favors the free flow and disclosure of information to the public. However, the legislature does not intend to empower the press and the public with carte blanch to demand all records held by public agencies.

Open Meetings. The Rhode Island Open Meetings Law ("OML"), R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 42-46-1 et seq., was enacted in 1976. The public policy of the OML is set forth in its preamble. It provides:

It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens be advised of and aware of the performance of public officials and the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-1.

A. Who can request records?

1. Status of requester

2. Purpose of request

There is no limitation on the purpose for which a request for records may be made. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3. A public record cannot be withheld based on the purpose for which the public records was sought. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(j).

4. Can an individual request records on behalf of a third party or organization?

B. Whose records are and are not subject to the Act

The APRA is broad in application. Records of agencies or public bodies are subject to the APRA. An “agency” or “public body” shall mean any: “executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, or administrative body of the state, or any political subdivision thereof; including, but not limited to, any department, division, agency, commission, board, office, bureau, authority, any school, fire, or water district, or other agency of Rhode Island state or local government which exercises governmental functions, any [public authority], or any other public or private agency, person partnership, corporation, or business entity acting on behalf of and/or in place of any public agency.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(1) (2012).

1. Executive branch

Subject to the APRA, without limit as to function. executive bodies, any office or authority thereof, and any person acting on behalf of any public agency are expressly included. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(1) (2012)

3. Courts

4. Nongovernmental bodies

Not expressly included, but likely falls within the scope of the APRA as constituting a public or private agency, partnership, corporation, or business entity acting on behalf of and/or in place of any public agency. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(1) (2012).

7. Others

C. What records are and are not subject to the act?

1. What kinds of records are covered?

The APRA broadly defines public records as “all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data processing records, computer stored data (including electronic mail messages, except specifically for any electronic mail messages of or to elected officials with or relating to those they represent and correspondence of or to elected officials in their official capacities) or other material regardless of physical form or characteristics made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.” R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 38-2-2(4) and 38-2-3(a) (2012).

The private law practice records of an education department commissioner which were created or maintained at the department’s offices were nonetheless not “public records” under the act, as they were not “made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.” Pontarelli v. Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 176 A.3d 472, 479 (2018).

3. Are certain records available for inspection but not copying?

4. Telephone call logs

Presumably subject to the APRA. A requestor “may elect to obtain them in any and all media in which the public agency is capable of providing them. Any public body which maintains its records in a computer storage system shall provide any data properly identified in a printout or other reasonable format, as requested.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(g).

5. Electronic records (e.g., databases, metadata)

a. Can the requester choose a format for receiving records?

A requestor “may elect to obtain them in any and all media in which the public agency is capable of providing them. Any public body which maintains its records in a computer storage system shall provide any data properly identified in a printout or other reasonable format, as requested.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(g). “At the election of the person or entity requesting the public records, the public body shall provide copies of the public records electronically, by facsimile, or by mail in accordance with the requesting person or entity’s choice, unless complying with that preference would be unduly burdensome due to the volume of records requested or the costs that would be incurred. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(k). However, “[i]f a public record is in active use or in storage and, therefore, not available at the time a person or entity requests access, the custodian shall so inform the person or entity and make an appointment for the person or entity to examine such records as expeditiously as they may be made available.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(f)

b. Can the requester obtain a customized search of computer databases to fit particular needs

The APRA does not require “a public body to reorganize, consolidate, or compile data not maintained by the public body in the form requested at the time the request to inspect the public records was made except to the extent that such records are in an electronic format and the public body would not be unduly burdened in providing such data.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(h).

d. Online dissemination

6. Email

7. Text messages and other electronic messages

8. Social media posts

9. Computer software

10. Can a requester ask for the creation or compilation of a new record?

D. Fee provisions

1. Types of assessable fees (e.g., for search, review, duplication) and levels or limitations on fees

A reasonable charge may be made for the search or retrieval of documents. However, costs are limited to fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour for search and retrieval, with no costs to be charged for the first hour. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(b). The cost for copies of written documents is limited to fifteen cents ($.15) per page if copyable on common business or legal size paper. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(a). Multiple requests from any person or entity to the same public body within a thirty (30) day time period are considered to be one request. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(b).

2. Particular fee specifications or provisions

Upon request, a public body must provide an estimate of the costs of a request for documents prior to providing copies. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(c). Upon request, the public body must provide a detailed itemization of the costs charged for search and retrieval. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(d). The Attorney General has opined that a demand for prepayment may be reasonable

3. Provisions for fee waivers

A court may reduce or waive the fees for costs “if it determines that the information requested is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(e); Direct Action for Rights & Equality v. Gannon, 819 A.2d 651, 661-2 (R.I. 2003). This provision is limited by its terms to fees charged for search or retrieval.

A court may order a public body to provide records at no cost to a prevailing party in civil litigation. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-9(d).

All copying and search and retrieval fees shall be waived if a public body fails to produce requested records within ten (10) business days, unless there is a denial of access. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-(b).

4. Requirements or prohibitions regarding advance payment

5. Have agencies imposed prohibitive fees to discourage requesters?

6. Fees for electronic records

E. Who enforces the Act?

The Act is enforced by the Attorney General or by a private party through an action for injunctive or declaratory relief in the superior court of the county where the record is maintained. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8; Rhode Island Federation of Teachers v. Sundlun, 595 A.2d 799 (R.I. 1991)

1. Attorney General's role

A person who has been denied access to records has the option of filing a complaint with the Attorney General, who shall investigate the complaint. If the Attorney General then determines that the complaint is meritorious, he or she may instigate proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief on behalf of the complainant in the appropriate superior court. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(b). The Attorney General may also, of his or her own volition, initiate a complaint on behalf of the public interest. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(d).

2. Availability of an ombudsman

3. Commission or agency enforcement

F. Are there sanctions for noncompliance?

If a request for access to records was initially denied and a court later determines that the request should have been granted, the court has the option of reducing or waiving the statutory fees for search and/or retrieval if it determines that the information requested is in the public interest and likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-4(e); see also Direct Action for Rights and Equality v. Gannon, 819 A.2d 651 (R.I. 2003).

G. Record-holder obligations

1. Search obligations

2. Proactive disclosure requirements

The Public Records Administration (PRA) collaborates with agencies to develop records retention schedules for records that are unique to each agency. They are contained in the General Records Schedule, which is a document that lists and describes the records that an agency creates or receives in the course of conducting its business. Each schedule also stipulates the minimum amount of time the agency must keep each record series. The amount of time (the retention period) is set by law or determined by business needs when no law directly applies. The historical or informational value of the record is also a consideration.

3. Records retention requirements

The Public Records Administration (PRA) collaborates with agencies to develop records retention schedules for records that are unique to each agency. They are contained in the General Records Schedule, which is a document that lists and describes the records that an agency creates or receives in the course of conducting its business. Each schedule also stipulates the minimum amount of time the agency must keep each record series. The amount of time (the retention period) is set by law or determined by business needs when no law directly applies. The historical or informational value of the record is also a consideration.

Under the APRA, each public body shall make, keep, and maintain written or recorded minutes of all meetings. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(c).

1. Character of exemptions

2. Discussion of each exemption

Exemption (A)(I)(a): All records relating to a client/attorney relationship and to a doctor/patient relationship, including all medical information relating to an individual in any files. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(a) (2012).

Exemption (A)(I)(b): Personnel and other personal individually-identifiable records otherwise deemed confidential by federal or state law or regulation, or the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552 et. seq.; provided, however, with respect to employees, and employees of contractors and subcontractors working on public works projects which are required to be listed as certified payrolls, the name, gross salary, salary range, total cost of paid fringe benefits, gross amount received in overtime, and any other remuneration in addition to salary, job title, job description, dates of employment and positions held with the state, municipality, employment contract, or public works contractor or subcontractor on public works projects work location, and/or project, business telephone number, the city or town of residence, and date of termination shall be public. For the purposes of this section “remuneration” shall include any payments received by an employee as a result of termination, or otherwise leaving employment, including, but not limited to, payments for accrued sick and/or vacation time, severance pay, or compensation paid pursuant to a contract buy-out provision. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(A)(II)(b).

In Rake v. Gorodetsky, 452 A.2d 1144 (R.I. 1982), the court noted that the records would not be held to fall within the exemption merely because they were stored in personnel files, regarded as personnel records by the police department, or arranged by the personnel bureau of the department.

In Providence Journal Co. v. Kane, 577 A.2d 661 (R.I. 1990), decided prior to the 1991 amendment to this section of the APRA, the Rhode Island Supreme Court held that all personnel records identifiable to an individual employee are exempt from disclosure. The Court refused to employ a balancing test in determining whether such records should be held to be confidential under the APRA.

In Providence Journal Co. v. Sundlun, 616 A.2d 1131 (R.I. 1992), the court held that records revealing the names and positions of state employees who were scheduled to be laid off, but were never actually laid off, were exempt from public disclosure. The court further held that Exemption (1) limits public access not only to personal information contained within an employee's personnel file, but also to any records that identify a particular employee.

In addition, Edward A. Sherman Publishing Co. v. Carpender, 659 A.2d 1117 (R.I. 1995), the court held that the name of a teacher who receives notice of layoff is exempt from disclosure under the Act until the teacher's employment is actually terminated.

Furthermore, the Rhode Island Attorney General determined that Exemption (1) does not permit a city to withhold information as to whether the city provided medical benefits to members of its boards or commissions, or information concerning the total cost of such benefits to city taxpayers. See Op. Att’y Gen., April 14, 1989. Additionally, the Rhode Island Supreme Court held that all police civilian complaint reports are public documents under the APRA and must be disclosed upon request in redacted form whenever final action (a final determination made by the police chief) occurs. Direct Action for Rights and Equality v. Gannon, 713 A.2d 218, 224 (1998).

Exemption (A)(II): Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, or any other provision of the general laws to the contrary, the pension records of all persons who are either current or retired members of any public retirement systems as well as all persons who become members of those retirement systems after June 17, 1991 shall be open for public inspection. “Pension records” as used in this section shall include all records containing information concerning pension and retirement benefits of current and retired members of the retirement systems and future members of said systems, including all records concerning retirement credits purchased and the ability of any member of the retirement system to purchase retirement credits, but excluding all information regarding the medical condition of any person and all information identifying the member's designated beneficiary or beneficiaries unless and until the member's designated beneficiary or beneficiaries have received or are receiving pension and/or retirement benefits through the retirement system.

Exemption (B): Trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person, firm or corporation, which is of a privileged or confidential nature. This Exemption is patterned after the federal FOIA but broader in scope, exempting information of a privileged or confidential nature. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(4). R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(B) (1999).

In Town of New Shoreham v. Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, 464 A.2d 730 (R.I. 1983), the Court interpreted this Exemption as affording no right to have made public income tax returns and financial statements which were produced but sealed pursuant to a protective order by the Public Utility Commission.

In Providence Journal Co. v. Convention Center Authority, 774 A.2d 40,47 (R.I. 2001), the Court interpreted the “confidential nature” of this Exemption to include: Any financial or commercial information whose disclosure would be likely either (1) to impair the Government's ability to obtain necessary information in the future; or (2) to cause substantial harm to the competitive position of the person from whom the information was obtained. Providence Journal Co. v. Convention Center Authority, 774 A.2d 40,47 (R.I. 2001). In addition, the Court held that commercial or financial information provided on a voluntary basis is confidential for the purposes of exemption “if it is of a kind that would customarily not be released to the public by the person from whom it was obtained. Id.; see also In re New England Gas Company, 842 A.2d 545 (R.I. 2004); Interstate Navigation Co. v. Division of Public Utilities, (R.I.Super., Jan. 9, 2002), 2002 WL 169186.

In Providence Journal Co. v. Convention Center Authority, 774 A.2d 40, 48-49 (R.I. 2001) the Court held that the APRA does not mandate the publication of documents reflecting the negotiation process because that information was exempt from disclosure under APRA § 38-2-2(4)(B). If the final contracts contained confidential or privileged financial information that was segregable, that limited information is subject to redaction. Id. at 50.

Procedurally, the applicability of APRA to records held by a public body is not determined by a balancing test. Providence Journal Co. v. Convention Center Authority, 774 A.2d 40 (R.I. 2001). The Supreme Court has held that to deploy a balancing test constitutes reversible error. Id. In Robinson v. Malinoff, 770 A.2d 873 (2001), the Court interpreted the APRA finding that the legislative intent is clear and is “to protect records concerning a particular individual, and in particular, when the disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of that person's privacy. Id. Although the purpose of the APRA is suggestive of a balancing approach, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has always strictly applied both the substantive and procedural section of the APRA. Robinson, 770 A.2d at 873; Bernard v. Vose, 730 A.2d 30 (R.I. 1999) (explaining records pertaining to the individual and contained in any files of a public body are not considered public because disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of that personal privacy).

The Attorney General interpreted this exemption so as not to encompass a computer tape, which listed the names and codes of all persons filing financial statements with the Rhode Island Conflict of Interest Commission. The Attorney General reasoned that they had no reasonable expectation of privacy. See Op. Att’y Gen., September 16, 1986.

Exemption (D): All records maintained by law enforcement agencies for criminal law enforcement and all records relating to the detection and investigation of crime, including those maintained on any individual or compiled in the course of a criminal investigation by any law enforcement agency. Provided, however, such records shall not be deemed public only to the extent that the disclosure of the records or information (a) could reasonably be expected to interfere with investigations of criminal activity or with enforcement proceedings, (b) would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (c) could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, (d) could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, including a state, local, or foreign agency or authority, or any private institution which furnished information on a confidential basis, or the information furnished by a confidential source, (e) would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions or (f) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual. Records relating to management and direction of a law enforcement agency and records or reports reflecting the initial arrest of an adult and the charge or charges brought against an adult shall be public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(D) (2012).

In Providence Journal Co. v. Rhode Island Dept. of Public Safety ex rel. Kilmartin, 136 A.3d 1168 (R.I. 2016), the Supreme Court held that in balancing the privacy interests against the public interest in disclosure, “the usual rule that the citizen need not offer a reason for requesting the information must be inapplicable” (quoting Nat’l Archives and Records Admin. v. Favish, 541 U.S. 157, 172 (2004)). Following this decision, the Attorney General opined that when a requester does not cite a “public interest” in the records, even a minimal privacy interest will exempt the records from disclosure. See Op. Att’y Gen., PR 17-49, Oct. 13, 2017; Op. Att’y Gen., PR 17-50, Oct. 16, 2017.

The Attorney General has also based a number of opinions favoring denials of access for privacy reasons on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dep’t of Justice v. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 489 U.S. 749 (1989), finding that criminal and penal records about particular individuals are examples of information “that happens to be in the warehouse of Government” and not related to the operations of that government. See, e.g., Op. Att’y Gen., PR 16-45, Nov. 1, 2016.

Prior to the 1991 amendment of this section, the Attorney General determined that pre-arrest police reports containing basic information regarding suspects cannot be withheld under the exemptions to the Act unless they are of an investigatory nature. See Opinion of Attorney General, October 7, 1987. In 1995, the Attorney General interpreted the APRA to deny public access to motor vehicle accident police records when the accident is under investigation by the police department. See Op. Att’y Gen., March 9, 1995. Additionally, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has held that all police civilian complaint reports are public documents under the APRA and must be disclosed upon request in redacted form whenever final action (a final determination made by the police chief) occurs. Direct Action for Rights and Equality v. Gannon, 713 A.2d 218, 224 (1998).

Exemption (E): Any records which would not be available by law or rule of court to an opposing party in litigation. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(E) (2012).

In Hydron Labs, Inc, v. Department of the Attorney General, 492 A.2d 135 (R.I. 1985), a corporation charged by the state with dumping noxious materials requested information concerning the waste-disposal site. The information was unavailable in an environmental action against the corporation under the qualified work product privilege of R.I. Rules of Civ. Proc. 34. The court held that the limitations placed on the scope of Rule 34 apply to discovery under the APRA, reasoning that the APRA was not designed to provide an alternative method of discovery for litigants.

Exemption (F): Scientific and technological secrets and the security plans of military and law enforcement agencies, the disclosure of which would endanger the public welfare and security. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(F) (2012).

Exemption (G): Any records which disclose the identity of the contributor of a bona fide and lawful charitable contribution to the public body whenever public anonymity has been requested of the public body with respect to the contribution by the contributor. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(G) (2012).

Exemption (H): Reports and statements of strategy or negotiation involving labor negotiations or collective bargaining. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(H) (2012). A draft of a collective bargaining agreement is part of the negotiation process and does not become available for public inspection until it is ratified by both parties. See Op. Att’y Gen., December 27, 1990.

Exemption (I): Reports and statements of strategy or negotiation with respect to the investment or borrowing of public funds, until such time as those transactions are entered into. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(I) (2012).

Exemption (J): Any minutes of a meeting of a public body which are not required to be disclosed pursuant to chapter 46 of title 42. (Chapter 46 of title 42 is the Rhode Island Open Meetings Law, discussed infra. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7 requires that minutes be available to the public except where disclosure “would be inconsistent” with provisions of the law permitting meetings to be closed.) R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(J) (2012).

The Attorney General has found minutes of an open zoning board meeting, whether approved or not, to be accessible. See Op. Att’y Gen., February 19, 1987.

Exemption (K): Preliminary drafts, notes, impressions, memoranda, working papers and work products, including public university work product; provided, however, any documents submitted at a public meeting of a public body shall be deemed public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(K) (2012).

This appears to be one of the most sweeping of the exemptions. Arguably inter-agency and intra-agency memoranda fall within the scope of exemption (K). The law was amended in 2017 to include papers “involving research at state institutions of higher education on commercial, scientific, artistic, technical, or scholarly issues, whether in electronic or other format.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(K), as amended by P.L. 2017, ch. 48, § 1.

Exemption (L): Test questions, scoring keys and other examination data used to administer a licensing examination, examination for employment or promotion or academic examinations; provided, however, that a person shall have the right to review the results of his or her examination. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(L) (2012).

Exemption (M): Correspondence of or to elected officials with or relating to those they represent, and correspondence of or to elected officials in their official capacities. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(M) (2012).

Exemption (N): The contents of real estate appraisals, engineering or feasibility estimates and evaluations made for or by an agency relative to the acquisition of property or to prospective public supply and construction contracts, until such time as all of the property has been acquired or all proceedings or transactions have been terminated or abandoned; provided the law of eminent domain shall not be affected by this provision. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(N) (2012).

Exemption (O): All tax returns. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(O) (2012).

Exemption (P): All investigatory records of public bodies, with the exception of law enforcement agencies, pertaining to possible violations of statute, rule, or regulation other than records of final actions taken provided that all records prior to formal notification of violations or noncompliance shall not be deemed to be public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(P) (2012).

Exemption (Q): Records of individual test scores on professional certification and licensing examinations; provided, however, that a person shall have the right to review the results of his or her examination. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(Q) (2012).

Exemption (R): Requests for advisory opinions until such time as the public body issues its opinion. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(R) (2012).

Exemption (S): Records, reports, opinions, information, and statements required to be kept confidential by federal or state law, rule of court, or by regulation. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(S) (2012).

Note that exemption (S) does not include the federal FOIA's qualification, that the statute protecting disclosure must either leave no discretion on the issue of withholding or establish criteria for withholding. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(3).

Exemption (T): Judicial bodies are included in the definition of “public body” only in respect to their administrative function, provided that records kept pursuant to the provisions of chapter 16 of title 8 are exempt from the operation of this chapter. (Chapter 16, title 8, created the Commission On Judicial Tenure and Discipline, to investigate wrongdoing and unfitness of justices of various courts in Rhode Island). R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(T) (2012).

Exemption (U): Library records which, by themselves or when examined with other public records, would reveal the identity of the library user requesting, checking out, or using any library materials. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(U) (2012).

Exemption (W): All records received by the Insurance Division of the Department of Business Regulation from other states, either directly or through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, if such records are accorded confidential treatment in that state. Nothing contained in this title or any other provision of law shall prevent or be construed as prohibiting the Commissioner of Insurance from disclosing otherwise confidential information to the Insurance Department of this or any other state or country, at any time, so long as such agency or office receiving the records agrees in writing to hold it confidential in a manner consistent with the laws of this state. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(W) (2012).

Exemption (X): Credit card account numbers in the possession of state or local government are confidential and shall not be deemed public records. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(X) (2012).

Exemption (Y): Any documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony provided under any subpoena issued under Rhode Island general law section 9-1.1-6. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(Y) (2012).

Exemption (Z): Any individually identifiable evaluations of public school teachers made pursuant to state or federal law or regulation. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(Z) (2012).

Exemption (AA): All documents prepared by school districts intended to be used by school districts in protecting the safety of their students from potential and actual threats. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(AA) (2012).

However, any reasonably segregable portion of a public record excluded by subdivision 38-2-2(4) shall be available for public inspection after the deletion of the information which is the basis of the exclusion. If an entire document or record is deemed non-public, the public body shall state in writing that no portion of the document or record contains reasonable segregable information that is releasable. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(b) (2012).

B. Other statutory exclusions

For the standards a statute must meet to override the APRA, see R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(S) (2012).

Health Records. The Confidentiality of Health Care Information Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37.3-1 et seq., enacted in 1978, generally bars providers of health care services from providing any information relating to a patient's medical history, diagnosis, condition, treatment, or evaluation to anyone other than the patient or an authorized representative without the written consent of the patient or an authorized representative. R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37.3-4(a) (1999). A person violating this Act is subject to civil and criminal penalties, and may be fined up to $5,000, imprisoned up to six months, or both. R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37.3-4(a)(3).

Mental Health. R.I. Gen. Laws § 40.1-5-26 (2010) requires that mental health care records remain confidential and be disclosed only as required for court proceedings, by mental health law, or with written consent of the patient or his/her guardian.

Registered Public Obligations. R.I. Gen. Laws § 35-13-11(a) provides that records, with regard to the ownership of or security interests in registered public obligations, are not accessible.

Welfare. Records pertaining to the administration of public assistance are confidential pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 40-6-12. Such records are subject to production through a subpoena duces tecum properly issued by a court, but only where either the purpose for which the subpoena is sought or the litigation involved is directly connected with the administration of public assistance. The addresses of welfare recipients are also releasable to the state's “warrant squad,” so-called, if an outstanding arrest warrant or body attachment is issued. R.I. Gen. Laws § 40-6-12.1. Persons entitled to access to a list of individuals receiving public assistance shall not use such list for purposes other than administration, and shall not publish or use such list, except by express consent of the director of the Department of Human Services. R.I. Gen. Laws § 40-6-12. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor. Id.

Alcoholism. R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1.10-13(a) (1995) provides that registration and other records of alcoholic treatment facilities are confidential and privileged. § 23-1.10-13(b) further provides that the director of the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals may make information from patients' records available for research purposes, but that names or other identifying information may not be disclosed.

Child Molestation. Records concerning the identity of victims of child molestation and sexual assault are confidential pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.5. Disclosure of identifying information may only be made by court order to the defendant charged with the assault and those directly involved with the preparation of the defense. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.5(c).

Criminal Convictions. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-19.1-2 (2000) and 12-19.1-3 require the court clerks to maintain and keep for public inspection a register of all criminal convictions in chronological order.

Family Court. R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-10-21 requires that records of the Family Court shall be public records, but for records of hearings in matters set forth in § 14-1-5, which includes proceedings concerning delinquent, wayward, dependent, neglected, and mentally defective or disordered children, adoption, paternity, and child marriages.

Adoption. R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-10-21 and 23-3-15 together prohibit the inspection of records of an adoption proceeding unless disclosure is granted by an order of the court. In re Assalone, 512 A.2d 1383, 1385 (R.I. 1986); In re Christine, 121 R.I. 203, 206, 397 A.2d 511, 512-13 (1979). An order granting disclosure may be issued only upon a showing of good cause. Id. at 207, 397 A.2d at 513. In In re Christine, a natural mother sought records of the adoptive parents. In In re Assalone, an adult adoptee sought records of her natural parents. In both cases, the Court denied access based on the failure to establish good cause. Moreover, the Court in In re Assalone noted in dicta that once compelling reasons are shown, those who may be vitally affected by disclosure must be given the opportunity to intervene through a representative to defend their interest. 512 A.2d at 1390.

Judicial Misconduct. Transcripts and determinations of the Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline are public documents, except where they relate to private reprimand involving a non-serious matter for which only a caution is given, in which case they are confidential. R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-16-5. Hearings before the Supreme Court which review the Commission’s recommendations pursuant to § 8-16-6 shall be open to the public, and the court’s decision shall be public and shall be published in the same manner as other decisions of the supreme court. R.I. Gen. Laws 8-16-6( c). Papers filed with and decisions of the Supreme Court on review of such reprimands are also confidential. R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-16-7.1. Evidence obtained by the Commission is confidential until it is introduced or becomes the subject of testimony at a public hearing. R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-16-13. Papers filed in judicial proceedings in aid of or ancillary to a non-public commission hearing are confidential. R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-16-13.1. The provisions in this chapter are expressly exempt from the operation of the APRA. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(d)(20).

Ethics Violations. The content and substance of all proceedings before adjudicative panels of the Ethics Commission shall remain confidential until a final decision is rendered. The hearing before the commission shall be open to the public but the deliberations of the Commission are confidential and not open to the public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-13(a)(5),(a)(9) and (f).

Elderly Persons. Records pertaining to a person reported to be abused, neglected, exploited, abandoned or self-neglecting are confidential. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-66-10. However, such records may be released in certain instances to assist in prosecutions or investigations, for the coordination of needed services, or for protection of elderly victims. Id.

Pre-trial Services Program Records. Information supplied by a defendant in a criminal case to a representative of the pre-trial services program during the defendant's initial interview or subsequent contacts is deemed confidential under R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-13-24(a) and shall not be subject to subpoena or to disclosure without the written consent of the defendant under most circumstances. See R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 2-13-24(a)(1)-(6) for a complete list of these exceptions.

Nursing Home Patients. Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.5-14, a nursing home patient's right to privacy and confidentiality extends to all records pertaining to that patient. Accordingly, release of any records is subject to the patient's approval in most instances.

Abused and Neglected Children. R.I. Gen. Laws § 40-11-13 mandates that all records concerning reports of child abuse and neglect shall be kept confidential. Any employee or agent of the Department of Human Services found violating this provision shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not more that two hundred ($200.00) dollars or shall be imprisoned for not more that six (6) months or both. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 40-11-13(b).

C. Court-derived exclusions, common law prohibitions, recognized privileges against disclosure

D. Protective orders and government agreements to keep records confidential

E. Interaction between federal and state law

1. HIPAA

2. DPPA

3. FERPA

4. Other

F. Segregability requirements

G. Agency obligation to identify basis of redaction or withholding

III. Record categories - open or closed

A. Autopsy and coroners reports

No specific exemption; however, presumably closed because of R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-3-1 and 23-3-23, which, when read in conjunction provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to permit inspection of or disclose information in records concerning “death” and “data related thereto” unless authorized. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-3-1 and 23-3-23.

D. Budgets

E. Business records, financial data, trade secrets

“Trade secrets and financial or commercial information obtained from a person, firm, or corporation, which is of a privileged or confidential nature” are exempt from disclosure. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(i)(B).

F. Contracts, proposals and bids

No specific exemption. Partially within the scope of Exemption (N), which includes “real estate appraisals, engineering or feasibility estimates and evaluations made for or by an agency relative to the acquisition of property or prospective public supply and construction contracts, until such time as all of the property has been acquired or all proceedings or transactions have been terminated or abandoned.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(i)(N). For documents of this type which are deemed public, the restriction in R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-6 would be applicable, in that the information therein cannot be used to obtain a commercial advantage over the party that furnished that information to the public body.

H. Economic development records

I. Election Records

J. Emergency Medical Services records

K. Gun permits

In Providence Journal Co. v. Pine, 1998 WL 356904 (R.I.Super. 1998), the court decided that gun permit records are included under the APRA. Nevertheless, the Attorney General must redact all exempt portions from the gun permit records. It is entirely up to the Attorney General whether he chooses to manually redact material or whether he prefers to prepare a computer program in order to accomplish the same result; however the fact that the Attorney General may have to reprogram the computer will not serve as a bar to providing accessible gun permit records. Id. at *18.

M. Hospital reports

Partially within the scope of Exemption (A), which includes records identifiable to a patient; including but not limited to medical treatment and records relating to a doctor-patient relationship. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(i)(A). See also The Confidentiality of Health Care Information Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37.3-1 et seq., enacted in 1978, which generally bars providers of health care services from providing any information relating to a patient's medical history, diagnosis, condition, treatment, or evaluation to anyone other than the patient or an authorized representative without the written consent of the patient or an authorized representative. R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37.3-4(a) (1999). A person violating this Act is subject to civil and criminal penalties, and may be fined up to $5,000, imprisoned up to six months, or both. R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37.3-4(a)(2)-(4).

N. Personnel records

Personnel records are generally excluded by Exemption (A), if deemed confidential by federal or state law or regulation, or the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552 et. seq. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(b). However, there is a list of specific personnel information that is required to be public under the APRA. Id. Moreover, pension records of all persons who are either current or retired members of the retirement systems established by the general laws as well as all persons who become members of those retirement systems after June 17, 1991 shall be open for public inspection. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(A)(II).

3. Applications

4. Personally identifying information

Personally identifying information is subject to the standard set forth in R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(b). R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(b) permits access to the following information that is identifiable to an individual employee: “the name, gross salary, salary range, total cost of paid fringe benefits, gross amount received in overtime, and any other remuneration in addition to salary, job title, job description, dates of employment and positions held with the state, municipality, employment contract, or public works contractor or subcontractor on public works projects work location, and/or project, business telephone number, the city or town of residence, and date of termination.”

5. Expense reports

6. Evaluations/performance reviews

7. Complaints filed against employees

8. Other

O. Police records

Records for criminal law enforcement are generally excluded from disclosure by Exemption (D) to the extent that disclosure could interfere with criminal investigation or enforcement proceedings, would deprive a person of a fair trial or impartial proceedings, could reasonably be expected to disclose a confidential source, would disclose investigation or prosecution techniques or procedures, or could endanger the life or safety of an individual. Records relating to management and direction of a law enforcement agency and records or reports reflecting the initial arrest of an adult and the charges or charges brought against any adult shall be public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(D).

2. Police blotter

3. 911 tapes

Tapes containing records of 911 telephone calls are confidential and to be used only in handling emergency calls and for public safety purposes. They may not be released to anyone other than emergency and public safety personnel without written consent of the person whose voice is recorded or upon order of the court. R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-21.1-4(2). See also Opinion of Attorney General PR 04-05 (Mar. 19, 2004), 2004 WL 5328452.

4. Investigatory records

Records for criminal law enforcement including “all records relating to the investigation of crime, including those maintained on any individual or compiled in the course of a criminal investigation by any law enforcement agency” are generally excluded from disclosure by Exemption (D) to the extent that disclosure could interfere with criminal investigation or enforcement proceedings, would deprive a person of a fair trial or impartial proceedings, could reasonably be expected to disclose a confidential source, would disclose investigation or prosecution techniques or procedures, or could endanger the life or safety of an individual. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(D). The disclosure of these types of records is determined on a case by case basis using the factors set forth in the statute.

5. Arrest records

6. Compilations of criminal histories

Records maintained by law enforcement agencies for criminal law enforcement and all records relating to the detection and investigation of crime, including those maintained on any individual or compiled in the course of a criminal investigation by any law enforcement agency are subject to the standards enumerated under R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(D). However, a rap sheet or similar aggregated record of criminal history pertaining to an individual would likely be deemed non-public as they “could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” United States Department of Justice v. Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, 489 U.S. 749, 772 (1989).

2. Trustee records

3. Student records

The parent, legal guardian, or eligible student may personally inspect and review records in existence at the time of the request, obtain a reasonable explanation and interpretation of the records, request to amend the records, have them preserved, and contest any part of them. R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-71-3(a). They also have the right to have the records kept confidential and not released to any other individual, agency or organization without prior written consent of the parent, legal guardian or eligible student, except to the extent that the release of the records is authorized by the provisions of 20 U.S.C. § 1232g or other applicable law or court process. Id.

4. School foundation/fundraising/donor records

5. Research material or publications

6. Other

All pension records for current and retired members of public pension systems are public, with the exception of information regarding the medical condition of any person and the identification of the member’s designated beneficiary. R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-2(4)(A)(II)

V. Tax records

W. Vital Statistics

1. Birth certificates

Access to birth records less than 100 years old is generally limited to the person whose birth was recorded, his or her parents (if the person is a minor), his or her issue, attorneys at law, title examiners, and members of legally incorporated genealogical societies. Birth certificates may only be issued to the person whose birth was recorded, his or her parents (if the person is a minor), and his or her issue. R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-3-23(d).

4. Infectious disease and health epidemics

IV. Procedure for obtaining records

A. How to start

The APRA has no general provisions governing the process for making a request. Each public body must establish its own access procedures. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(d). However, a public body may not require written requests for public information available pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-2 or for other documents prepared for or readily available to the public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(d).

1. Who receives a request?

2. Does the law cover oral requests?

While the statute does not specifically address oral requests, each public body shall establish procedures regarding access to public records. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(d). A public body can establish a procedure that does not permit oral requests, by requiring that all requests be in writing or that all requests be in writing and using a specific request form. If a public body has not established any procedures pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(d), it must accept oral requests and treat them the same as written requests. See Op. Att’y Gen. PR 09-29 (Nov. 19, 2009), 2009 WL 6329137. However, no public body can require written requests for public information available pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-2 or for other documents prepared for or readily available to the public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(d).

3. Required contents of a written request

4. Can the requester choose a format for receiving records?

5. Availability of expedited processing

B. How long to wait

1. Statutory, regulatory or court-set time limits for agency response

Records must be made available for inspection and copying “at such reasonable time as may be determined by the custodian thereof.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(a). The custodian is required to tell the requester if the records are in active use or in storage, and to make an appointment for the requester “to examine such records as expeditiously as may be made available.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(f).

However, any denial of the right to inspect or copy records must be made by the public body in writing, giving the specific reasons for the denial within ten (10) business days of the request and indicating the procedures for appealing the denial. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(e). Except for good cause shown, any reason not specifically set forth in the denial shall be deemed waived by the public body. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7(a).

Failure to comply with a request to inspect or copy the public record within the ten (10) business day period shall be deemed to be a denial. Except that for good cause, this limit may be extended for a period not to exceed thirty (30) business days. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7(b).

2. Informal telephone inquiry as to status

3. Is delay recognized as a denial for appeal purposes?

Under the APRA, an agency must deny a request for records in writing, giving the specific reasons for its denial and indicating the procedures for appealing the denial, within ten (10) business days of the request. Failure to so respond is deemed a denial. The limit may be extended to thirty business days for good cause. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-7.

4. Any other recourse to encourage a response

C. Administrative appeal

1. Time limit to file an appeal

2. To whom is an appeal directed?

Administrative appeals are exclusively with the chief administrative officer of the agency. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(a). Upon denial, a formal complaint may be filed with the Attorney General. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(b). The APRA specifies that appeals are by “any person or entity denied the right to inspect a record.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(a).

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has determined that a requestor “may” direct an appeal to the chief administrator officer of the agency but is not required to do so. The Legislature, in R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8, created an alternative to an administrative appeal, in that a person denied the right to inspect records has the option of retaining private counsel and instituting proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief in the superior court. Downey v. Carcieri, 996 A.2d 1144 (R.I. 2010).

4. Contents of appeal

5. Waiting for a response

6. Subsequent remedies

Unavailable. Appeals, as stated above, are directly to the Attorney General. Alternatively, the initial denial by the agency is deemed an exhaustion of administrative remedies, and the person seeking access may directly file a civil action for injunctive or declaratory relief in the Superior Court in the county where the record is maintained. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(b).

d. Patterns for future access (declaratory judgment)

5. Pleading format

The pleading is in the form of a civil complaint against the agency alleging that the agency denied access, the records sought are public records, and plaintiff followed all proper procedures in making the request, with a prayer for injunctive or declaratory relief. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(b).

7. What court?

8. Burden of proof

9. Judicial remedies available

10. Litigation expenses

a. Attorney fees

The court shall award reasonable attorneys’ fees to the prevailing plaintiff. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-9(d). If the court finds in favor of the defendant and also further finds that that the plaintiff's case was not grounded in fact, existing law, or in good faith argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law, the court has the discretion to award attorneys’ fees to the prevailing defendant. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-9(d).

b. Court and litigation costs

The court shall award reasonable costs to the prevailing plaintiff. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-9. If the court finds in favor of the defendant and also further finds that that the plaintiff's case was not grounded in fact, existing law, or in good faith argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law, the court has the discretion to aware reasonable costs to the prevailing defendant. R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-9.

2. Time limits for filing appeals

3. Contact of interested amici

Briefs of amicus curiae may be filed with written consent of all parties, or upon leave of the Supreme Court on motion which identifies the interest of the applicant and the reasons why brief is desirable. R.I. Supreme Court Rule of Appellate Procedure 16(f).

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union may file amicus briefs in cases involving significant media law issues before a state's highest court.

G. Addressing government suits against disclosure

Open Meetings

I. Statute - basic application

A. Who may attend?

Any member of the public may attend an open meeting. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-3. However, the OML expressly allows the removal of any person who willfully disrupts a meeting to the extent that orderly conduct of the meeting is seriously compromised. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(d).

The Attorney General has determined that if a meeting place is unexpectedly filled to capacity and it is not possible to accommodate registered voters and the general public in one room, officials may segregate non-voters from all others and request that non-voters assemble in a convenient place, in close proximity to the meeting, as long as they are provided with some type of communication device which allows the proceedings to be heard. See Op. Att’y Gen., July 3, 1991. However, in a 1999 opinion to the Town of West Warwick, the Attorney General stated that even if an event is filled to capacity due to a large amount of non-West Warwick residents, the Town could not first offer access to West Warwick residents and then offer seating to non-West Warwick residents on a first-come, first-serve basis as the Act does not restrict attendance at meetings of public bodies to residents of a particular city or town. See Op. Att’y Gen., March 11, 1999.

B. What governments are subject to the law?

1. State

The OML applies to meetings of all public bodies, which are defined as “any department, agency, commission, committee, board, council, bureau, or authority or any subdivision thereof of state or municipal government, and shall include all authorities defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1(2).” R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(3). However, any political party, organization, or unit thereof meeting or convening is not and should not be considered to be a public body. Id.

2. County

The OML applies to meetings of all public bodies, which are defined as “any department, agency, commission, committee, board, council, bureau, or authority or any subdivision thereof of state or municipal government,” and shall include all authorities defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1(2). R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(3). However, any political party, organization, or unit thereof meeting or convening is not and should not be considered to be a public body. Id.

3. Local or municipal

The OML applies to meetings of all public bodies, which are defined as “any department, agency, commission, committee, board, council, bureau, or authority or any subdivision thereof of state or municipal government,” and shall include all authorities defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1(2).” R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(3). However, any political party, organization, or unit thereof meeting or convening is not and should not be considered to be a public body. Id.

C. What bodies are covered by the law?

The OML applies to meetings of all public bodies, which are defined as “any department, agency, commission, committee, board, council, bureau, or authority or any subdivision thereof of state or municipal government,” and shall include all authorities defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1(2). R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(3). However, any political party, organization, or unit thereof meeting or convening is not and should not be considered to be a public body. Id.

a. What officials are covered?

b. Are certain executive functions covered?

There is no limitation as to executive functions involved. The OML covers all public bodies which “convene” to discuss or act upon any matter over which the public body has “supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power”. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(1).

c. Are only certain agencies subject to the act?

No. The OML covers all public bodies which are departments or agencies of state or municipal government and which “convene” to discuss or act upon a matter over which the public body has “supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power”. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(1).

3. Courts

4. Nongovernmental bodies receiving public funds or benefits

Not covered unless a library that received 25% of its operational budget in the prior budget year from public funds or is an “authority” as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1(2). R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(3). R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1(2) identifies authorities as including certain named authorities, corporations and boards as well as any future “body corporate and politic with the power to issue bonds and notes, which are direct, guaranteed, contingent, or moral obligations of the state”.

Except with respect to libraries, the definition of “public body” is not tied to receipt of public funds. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. ADV OM 99-10 (July 2, 1999), 1999 WL 34814173.

Probably not covered unless a library or authority as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1(2), as these groups may fall outside of the definition of “public body” under R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(3). Any political party, organization, or unit thereof meeting or convening for any purpose is expressly not covered by the OML. Id.

6. Multi-state or regional bodies

7. Advisory boards and commissions, quasi-governmental entities

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(3) includes public bodies which are supervisory or advisory in nature and not just public bodies that meet to render decisions. See Solas v. Emergency Hiring Counsel of State, 774 A.2d 820, 825 (R.I. 2001). As discussed above, quasi-governmental agencies which meet the definition of “authority” in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1 are covered.

8. Other bodies to which governmental or public functions are delegated

9. Appointed as well as elected bodies

Substantially covered.

The Attorney General has interpreted the OML to apply to members-elect of a city-council. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 95-12, (December 19, 1995), 1995 WL 783630. Members-elect become subject to the OML as soon as the election results are not, even if the elections results have not yet been certified. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. OM 07-03 (Mar. 8, 2007), 2007 WL 1696978.

D. What constitutes a meeting subject to the law

The OML defines “meeting” as “the convening of a public body to discuss and/or act upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power.” Expressly included as public meetings are “so-called ‘workshop,’ ‘working,’ or ‘work’ sessions.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2.

The Attorney General has interpreted the OML to apply to any “gripe session” at which members of the public express concerns and criticisms to a public body and no votes are taken. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 90-12-41 (December 4, 1990), 1990 WL 487204. A meeting at which the electorate of a town may vote, such as a Financial Town Meeting, is subject to the OML and members of the general public may not be excluded. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 91-06-12 (July 3, 1991), 1991 WL 498710.

The Attorney General has interpreted the OML to apply whenever any gathering, whether formal or casual, of two or more members of the same public body to discuss any matter in which action will be taken by the public body. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 92-06-09 (June 5, 1992), 1992 WL 478161.

1. Number that must be present

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has interpreted the OML to require that a quorum must be present to constitute a meeting for purposes of the OML. See e.g. Fischer v. Zoning Bd. of Town of Charlestown, 723 A.2d 294 (R.I. 1999). A quorum is a simple majority unless otherwise defined by law. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(4). However, a public body cannot circumvent the requirements of the OML by discussing a matter that is before it in a series of one-on-one conversations. Op. Att’y Gen. No. ADV OM 04-04 (Apr. 16, 2004), 2004 WL 3557538.

a. Must a minimum number be present to constitute a "meeting"?

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has interpreted the OML to require that a quorum must be present to constitute a meeting for purposes of the OML. See e.g. Fischer v. Zoning Bd. of Town of Charlestown, 723 A.2d 294 (R.I. 1999). A quorum is a simple majority unless otherwise defined by law. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(4).

b. What effect does absence of a quorum have?

Although the OML does not specifically address this issue, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that the OML did not apply to town solicitor's informal meeting with two zoning board members, since this was not the convening of a meeting of a public body as envisioned by the OML, no quorum was present, and no public business was transacted. Fischer v. Zoning Bd. of Town of Charlestown, 723 A.2d 294 (R.I. 1999).

2. Nature of business subject to the law

a. "Information gathering" and "fact-finding" sessions

The public body must be convening to “discuss and/or act upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(1). Moreover, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has held that the provisions of the OML do not apply when no public business was transacted at the gathering. See, e.g., Fischer v. Zoning Bd. of Town of Charlestown, 723 A.2d 294 (R.I. 1999).

b. Deliberation toward decisions

3. Electronic meetings

While no provision of the OML attempts to regulate electronic meetings (i.e., conference calls, e-mail), the OML does expressly prohibit the use of electronic communication to circumvent the spirit or requirements of the OML. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(b). Discussions of a public body visa electronic communication shall be permitted only to schedule meetings. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(b)(1).

a. Conference calls and video/Internet conferencing

While no provision of the OML attempts to regulate electronic meetings (i.e., conference calls, e-mail), the OML does expressly prohibit the use of electronic communication to circumvent the spirit or requirements of the OML. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(b). Discussions of a public body visa electronic communication shall be permitted only to schedule meetings. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(b)(1).

b. E-mail

While no provision of the OML attempts to regulate electronic meetings (i.e., conference calls, e-mail), the OML does expressly prohibit the use of electronic communication to circumvent the spirit or requirements of the OML. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(b). Discussions of a public body visa electronic communication shall be permitted only to schedule meetings. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(b)(1).

E. Categories of meetings subject to the law

1. Regular meetings

a. Definition

b. Notice

Written notice of the dates, times and places of regularly scheduled meetings must be given at the beginning of the calendar year. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(a). Supplemental written public notice of the date, time, place, and a statement specifying the nature of the business to be discussed is required within a minimum of 48 hours before the date of the meeting, and copies of the notice must be maintained for at least one year. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(b). If an emergency meeting is called, a meeting notice and agenda must be posted “as soon as practicable”. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c). When a meeting which was properly noticed and posted under the OML is continued to another date, without formal adjournment, the public body cannot rely on the original notice given. Any continuation meeting must be re-noticed and re-posted in accordance with the provisions of the OML. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 91-08-14 (August 14, 1991), 1991 WL 498708.

The OML does not specifically address to whom notice must be given and only addresses the posting of notices.

Written public notice shall include, but need not be limited to, a posted notice at the principal office of the public body holding the meeting. If no principal office exists, the notice must be posted at the building in which the meeting is to be held, and in at least one other prominent area within the governmental unit. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c). Notice must also be filed electronically with the secretary of state pursuant to the rules and regulations are promulgated by the secretary of state. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c). Notice of a school committee meeting also must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district under the committee's jurisdiction. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c). The Attorney General has specifically found that the OML requires all public bodies holding meetings to comply fully with the Act's provisions including those public bodies in “work sessions.” See Op. Att’y Gen., February 13, 1991.

A statement specifying the nature of the business to be discussed must be included in the written notice posted within a minimum of 48 hours before the date of the meeting. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6 (b). The agenda must list individual items to be discussed, and the Attorney General has determined that it is grossly inadequate to simply list broad agenda items such as “Old Business” and “New Business.” Op. Att’y Gen., OM 09-20/PR 09-36 (Dec. 17, 2009), 2009 WL 6329143.

In Tanner v. Town Council of East Greenwich, 880 A.2d 784, 797-8 (R.I. 2005), the Rhode Island Supreme Court attempted to give guidance as to what would constitute a statement specifying the nature of the business to be discussed. It found that the Legislature intended to establish a flexible standard that would provide fair notice to the public as to the nature of the business to be discussed or acted upon and the OML does not require an agenda to specifically state that the public body intends to vote on a particular issues. But in this particular instance the agenda listed “Interviews for Potential Board and Commission Appointments”, along with the name and interview time for each candidate, which the court found was misleading and failed to not reasonably inform the public that the town council would be voting on the candidates. Procedurally, the Tanner court held that the action was not rendered moot when the Town gave proper notice at a second meeting. See also Solas v. Emergency Hiring Council of State, 774 A.2d 820 (R.I. 2001) and Op. Att’y Gen., OM 09-20/PR 09-36 (Dec. 17, 2009), 2009 WL 6329143.

Listing “2005-6 School Budget” on the agenda, when the school committee anticipated that there would be a vote on the issue of whether to close Wickford Elementary School, was misleading and failed to fairly notify the public that the issues of school closure and consolidation would be discussed. Ohs v. North Kingstown School Committee, C.A. No. WC 05-441, 2005 WL 2033074/2005 R.I. Super. LEXIS 132 (R.I. Super. Aug. 10, 2005).

All public bodies are required under the OML to ensure that all open meetings are held in places accessible to handicapped persons. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-13.

The OML provides for a maximum civil fine of $5,000.00 per meeting for willful violation of any other provision in the OML. In addition, the court may issue injunctive relief and declare null and void any actions of a public body found in violation of the OML. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8.

In the matter of Ohs v. North Kingstown School Committee, No. WC 05-441, 2007 WL 2360082 (R.I. Super. July 26, 2007), the Washington County Superior Court imposed the maximum fine of $5,000 against the school committee, based upon an intentionally misleading agenda item in this particular case and the secrecy with which the school committee had shrouded its past deliberations and decisions. But, in order not to unduly penalize town taxpayers, the Court said it would vacate the fine if the School Committee adopted a policy that would ensure strict compliance with the OML in the future.

c. Minutes

All public bodies must keep written minutes of their meetings which, at a minimum, must include the date, time and place, all present and absent members, a record by individual members of any vote taken, and other information relevant to the business of the public body that any member requests to be included or reflected in the minutes. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(a).

All public bodies within the executive branch of state government and all state public and quasi-public boards, agencies and corporations must keep official and/or approved minutes of all meetings and must file copies of all minutes of meetings with the Secretary of State for inspection by the public within thirty-five (35) days of the meeting. Rhode Island Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(d). This requirement does not apply to public bodies that are solely advisory in nature.

According to the Attorney General, minutes of public meetings should be filed in a place which allows for convenient public access. The most appropriate location for minutes of a Town Council committee is the Town Clerk's Office. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 91-08-14 (August 14, 1991), 1991 WL 498708.

2. Special or emergency meetings

a. Definition

An emergency meeting may be held upon majority vote of the members of a public body when deemed necessary to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c).

b. Notice requirements

If an emergency meeting is called, a meeting notice and agenda shall be posted as soon as practicable and filed electronically with the secretary of state. Upon meeting, the public body shall state for the record and minutes why the matter must be addressed in less than forty-eight (48) hours and only discuss the issue or issues which created the need for an emergency meeting. Moreover, the OML provides that emergency meetings shall not circumvent “the spirit and requirements of this Chapter.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c).

The OML does not specifically address to whom notice must be given and only addresses the posting of notices.

There are no special requirements regarding emergency meetings. If an emergency meeting is called, a meeting notice and agenda shall be posted as soon as practicable and filed electronically with the secretary of state pursuant to the rules and regulations which shall be promulgated by the secretary of state. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c).

Not specifically addressed. However, if an emergency meeting is called, a meeting notice and agenda shall be posted as soon as practicable and shall be electronically filed with the secretary of state. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6 (c).

If an emergency meeting is called, a meeting notice and agenda shall be posted as soon as practicable and, upon meeting, the public body shall state for the record why the matter must be addressed in less than forty-eight (48) hours and only discuss the issue or issues which created the need for an emergency meeting. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c).

The same penalties and remedies apply as for regular meetings.

The OML provides for a maximum civil fine of $5,000.00 per meeting for willful violation of any provision in the OML. In addition, the court may issue injunctive relief and declare null and void any actions of a public body found in violation of the OML. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8.

c. Minutes

If an emergency meeting is called, a meeting notice and agenda shall be posted as soon as practicable and, upon meeting, the public body shall state for the record and minutes why the matter must be addressed in less than forty-eight hours. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c). Moreover, the law provides that emergency meetings shall not circumvent the “spirit and requirements of this Chapter.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(c).

Minutes of emergency meetings are not distinguished from minutes of regularly scheduled meetings. See discussion above for regularly scheduled meetings.

3. Closed meetings or executive sessions

a. Definition

Closed meetings must be limited to matters allowed to be exempted from discussion by the nine exemptions listed in the OML, which include: any discussion of job performance, character, or physical or mental health of a person; discussions related to collective bargaining or litigation; discussion related to security issues; discussions related to investigative proceedings regarding allegations of misconduct, either civil or criminal; discussions related to acquisition or lease of real property; discussions of prospective business or industry entity; discussion of a matter related to the investment of public funds where the premature disclosure would adversely affect the public interest; certain matters related to school committees; and matters relating to grievances filed pursuant to collective bargaining agreement. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 42-46-4 and 42-46-5.

b. Notice requirements

The only special notice requirements provided in the OML are applicable only to closed meetings in which the job performance, character, or physical or mental health of a person or persons is going to be discussed or an executive session of a local school committee exclusively for the purposes (a) of conducting student disciplinary hearings or (b) of reviewing other matters which relate to the privacy of students and their records. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 42-46-5(a)(1) and (8). With respect to each such meeting, advance written notice must be provided to the affected person(s) or student(s) and he or she must be advised that he or she may require that the discussion be held at an open meeting. Id. Failure to provide such notification shall render any action taken against the affected person(s) or student(s) null and void. Id. Before going into a closed meeting pursuant to this subsection, the public body shall state for the record that any person(s) or student(s) to be discussed have been so notified and this statement shall be noted in the minutes of the meeting. Id.

Otherwise, there is no special notice requirements for closed meetings.

Same time list for notice as for regular meetings.

The OML does not specifically address to whom notice must be given and only addresses the posting of notices.

Same posting requirements as for regular meetings.

The meeting agenda must give fair notice of what will be discussed in any closed session. Although reasonable minds can differ as to what will constitute fair notice in any given situation, the notice should give some specific indication of the nature of the business to be discussed in closed session, i.e., “a personnel matter”, and not simply reference that there will be a closed session. Op. Att’y Gen., OM 09-20/PR 09-36 (Dec. 17, 2009), 2009 WL 6329143. If more than one matter of a specific type will be discussed at the closed session, the agenda must indicate the number of matters to be discussed. Op. Att’y Gen., OM 07-05 (Apr. 11, 2007), 2007 WL 1696981. With respect to litigation matters and personnel matters, if the matter is not yet public the public body may simply list “litigation matter” or “personnel matter” in its agenda. But if the matter is already one of public record, such as a pending court case, the public body should state the name of the case. Id. If the closed meeting relates to threatened litigation on a subject where the public is already aware of the existing discord, it is not sufficient for a school committee to list an agenda item as simply “litigation”, there must be more specific notice of the subject, such as “Litigation—Threatened Litigation as to Breathalyzer Policy” or “Litigation – Breathalyzer Policy” on the public agenda, to more fairly inform the public. Phoenix-Times Publishing Co. v. Barrington School Committee, No. PC-2009-4665, 2010 R.I. Super. LEXIS 170 (R.I. Super. Nov. 15, 2010).

The same penalties and remedies apply as for regular meetings.

The OML provides for a maximum civil fine of $5,000.00 per meeting for willful violation of any provision in the OML. In addition, the court may issue injunctive relief and declare null and void any actions of a public body found in violation of the OML. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8.

c. Minutes

Minutes of a closed meeting must be made available at the next regularly scheduled meeting, unless there is a majority vote in accordance with the OML to keep the minutes closed. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(c). Into the minutes must be recorded and entered the vote, the reasons for holding a closed meeting, by a citation to the applicable exemption, and a statement specifying the nature of the business to be discussed. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-4.

The Attorney General has noted that the requirement is only to include a statement of “nature of the business”, and there is no requirement to include a detailed statement of the actual discussions during the closed meeting. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 92-01-01 (January 3, 1992), 1992 WL 478153. The OML’s provision requiring a majority vote to keep minutes of a closed meeting exempt from disclosure was also interpreted to apply only to meetings closed pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-65-5(a)(l)-(4). If a meeting is closed pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-64-5(a)(5)-(7) to discuss a matter such as purchase of property or investment of public funds, minutes of that meeting must be released once the purpose for holding the closed meeting has abated (i.e., the property has been purchased or the investment has been made). Op. Att’y Gen., id.

Minutes of a closed session may be approved in an open session if no discussion is necessary before approval. If a public body wants to discuss minutes of a meeting that will be kept closed or if a vote on closure will be taken, the public body may go into closed session to avoid an inappropriate disclosure of the nature of the discussion at the original closed meeting. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 90-05-18 (June 18, 1990), 1990 WL 357448.

The minutes of a closed session shall be made available at the next regularly scheduled meeting unless the majority of the body both votes to extend the time period and publically state the reason for extending the time period. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(c).

d. Requirement to meet in public before closing meeting

A meeting may be closed upon majority vote of the members by open call. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-4. An open call is a public announcement by the chairperson that the meeting is to be closed, indicating the statutory authority involved. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-2(2).

f. Tape recording requirements

F. Recording/broadcast of meetings

The OML does not prohibit sound and photographic recordings. However, use of electronic communication shall not be used to circumvent the spirit or requirements of the OML. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(b).

1. Sound recordings allowed

No specific provision in statute, but allowed by case law. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island found a prohibition against taping meetings without the express knowledge and consent of a school committee to be unconstitutional. The court found that the OML required the school committee to allow members of the press and the public to tape record its meetings, subject to reasonable restrictions. Belcher v. Mansi, 569 F.Supp. 379 (D. R.I. 1983).

2. Photographic recordings allowed

No specific provision in statute, but the Attorney General has given the opinion that videotaping open portions of a meeting is allowed, by extension of the reasoning relating to sound recordings in Belcher v. Mansi, 569 F.Supp. 379 (D. R.I. 1983), subject to reasonable restrictions set forth by the public body. Op. Att’y Gen., OM 06-58 (Sept. 8, 2006), 2006 WL 4573885.

G. Access to meeting materials, reports and agendas

H. Are there sanctions for noncompliance?

The sanctions include reasonable attorneys fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff, a declaration that the actions of the public body violative of the statute are null and void, and a civil fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) against a public body or any of its members found to have willfully and knowingly violated the law. R.I.Gen. Laws § 42-46-8.

II. Exemptions and other legal limitations

A. Exemptions in the open meetings statute

1. Character of exemptions

OML lists ten specific purposes for which a meeting may be closed to the public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(l)-(10). The language of the OML, that a public body “may” close a meeting, indicates that the exemptions are discretionary. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a).

The language of the OML, that a public body “may” close a meeting, indicates that the exemptions are discretionary. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a).

2. Description of each exemption

Exemption (1): Any discussions of the job performance, character, physical or mental health of a person or persons provided that such person or persons affected may require that such discussion be held at an open meeting. According to the Attorney General, Exemption (1) does not authorize completely secret interviews of candidates for public positions. Exemption (1) covers only those portions of the interview dealing with an applicant's job performance, health, or character, which may be conducted in a closed session if the person affected does not object to the session being closed. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 89-04-24 (April 10, 1989), 1989 WL 421847.

Exemption (2): Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions pertaining to the same. The Rhode Island Superior Court, concurring with prior Attorney General Opinions, has interpreted exemption (2) to include not only instances in which a lawsuit has already been filed but also matters concerning “threatened litigation or imminent litigation that is reasonably anticipated by the public body.” Phoenix-Times Publishing Co. v. Barrington School Committee, No. PC-2009-4665, 2010 R.I. Super. LEXIS 170 (R.I. Super. Nov. 15, 2010).

The exemption only applies if the public interest will be affected by full disclosure of procedures and defenses in an adversarial situation, and the determining factor is whether advance public information would be detrimental to the public's interest. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 90-05-17 (June 18, 1990), 1990 WL 357449.

Exemption (3): Discussion regarding the matter of security including but not limited to the deployment of security personnel or devices.

Exemption (4): Any investigative proceedings regarding allegations of misconduct, either civil or criminal.

Exemption (5): Any discussions or considerations related to the acquisition or lease of real property for public purposes, or of the disposition of publicly held property wherein advanced public information would be detrimental to the interest of the public.

Exemption (6): Any discussions related to or concerning a prospective-business or industry locating in the state of Rhode Island when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the interest of the public.

Exemption (7): A matter related to the question of the investment of public funds where the premature disclosure would adversely affect the public interest. Public funds shall include any investment plan or matter related thereto, including but not limited to state lottery plans for new promotions.

Exemption (8): Any executive session of a local school committee exclusively for the purposes (i) of conducting student disciplinary hearings or (ii) of reviewing other matters which relate to the privacy of students and their records, provided, however, that any affected student may require that the discussion be held in an open meeting.

K. Negotiations and collective bargaining of public employees

1. Any sessions regarding collective bargaining

Work sessions of a public body to prepare for upcoming collective bargaining negotiations are appropriately closed under exemption 2. See Op. Att’y Gen., OM 07-02 (Feb. 28, 2007), 2007 WL 1696977. Where the agenda for a closed work session of a school committee listed “Teacher Contract Negotiations Work Session”, it was not a violation of the OML for the school committee to discuss the financial implications of various provisions that might be included in a new teachers’ union contract. Although the agenda didn’t specify that financial implications of various contract provisions might be discussed, because it would nearly impossible to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with another party without first determining the financial parameters within which any discussion could take place. Id.

The Attorney General has determined that meetings of a school committee's budget committee do not fall under the collective bargaining exemption because the budget committee has no role in, nor is a party to, later negotiations. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 95-07 (May 30, 1995), 1995 WL 370309.

No specific exemption. May be covered by exemption (4), which includes all investigative proceedings regarding allegations of civil or criminal misconduct, although parole board hearings are not normally “investigative.”

M. Patients, discussions on individual patients

N. Personnel matters

Interviews, disciplinary matters and discussions on dismissing employees are excluded by exemption (1), which includes, “Any discussions of the job performance [or] character of a person.” Persons affected may require the meeting to be open. Note that most job interviews would be neither discussions of “job performance” nor of “character” and therefore arguably would be open.

The Attorney General found that discussions relating to the need for a particular position does not relate to the performance or character of an individual and therefore not an appropriate topic for executive session. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 93-05-10 (May 13, 1993), 1993 WL 208956.

3. Dismissal, considering dismissal of public employees

O. Real estate negotiations

Exemption (5) excludes discussions or considerations related to the acquisition, lease or disposition of a public property, but only where advanced public information would be detrimental to the public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(5).

P. Security, national and/or state, of buildings, personnel or other

Q. Students, discussions on individual students

Exemption (8) excludes executive sessions of school committees conducting disciplinary hearings or reviewing other matters relating to the privacy of students and their records. However, students may require the meeting to be public. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(8).

1. Does the law provide expedited procedure for reviewing request to attend upcoming meetings?

2. When barred from attending

3. To set aside decision

4. For ruling on future meetings

5. Other

B. How to start

1. Where to ask for ruling

a. Administrative forum

There is no agency for handling open meetings appeals in Rhode Island. However, any citizen or entity of the state who is aggrieved as a result of violations of the OML may file a complaint with the attorney general. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a).

b. State attorney general

The Attorney General is required to prepare and post in a prominent location in each city and town hall, a notice providing concise information explaining the requirements of the OML and advising citizens of their rights to file complaints for violations of the OML. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-12.

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8 prescribes the procedures for persons aggrieved as a result of violations of the OML. A citizen of Rhode Island may file a complaint with the Attorney General. As a practical matter, this may be done simply by letter. The Attorney General must investigate, and may, upon determination that the allegations are meritorious, file a complaint in the Superior Court against the public body.

It is the official policy of the Attorney General not to issue advisory opinions on the OML. The Attorney General is authorized to render formal opinions to state departments, boards, commissions and general officers only. As a practical matter, the Attorney General will render informal and unofficial opinions to individuals upon request.

In practice, the Attorney General has consistently simply requested agency violators to comply with the OML and has refrained from filing complaints, upon noting that the agency was acting in good faith and was not a repeat offender. Seee.g. Op. Att’y Gen., February 25, 1986.

The Attorney General is required by law to file and submit to the legislature a report each year summarizing the complaints received pursuant to the OML and including information as to how many complaints were found to be meritorious and the action taken in response to those complaints. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-11.

c. Court

2. Applicable time limits

No complaint by the Attorney General may be filed after 180 days from the date of public approval of the minutes of the meeting at which the alleged violation occurred or, in the case of an unannounced or improperly closed meeting, after 180 days from the public action of a public body revealing the alleged violation, whichever is greater. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(b).

3. Contents of request for ruling

4. How long should you wait for a response

The OML does not provide for any specified response time. However, keep in mind that a complaint in the Superior Court must be filed within certain time limitations — usually within ninety (90) days of the attorney general's closing of the complaint or within one hundred eighty (180) days of the alleged violation, whichever occurs later. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(c).

5. Pleading format

6. Time limit for filing suit

The complaint must be filed within the time limits applicable to the Attorney General. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-11. If the individual has first filed a complaint with the attorney general pursuant to this section, and the attorney general declines to take legal action, the individual may file suit in superior court within ninety (90) days of the attorney general's closing of the complaint or within one hundred eighty (180) days of the alleged violation, whichever occurs later. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(c)

8. Judicial remedies available

9. Availability of court costs and attorney's fees

The court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff, other than the attorney general, except where special circumstances would render such an award unjust. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(d).

10. Fines

The court may impose a civil fine not exceeding $5,000 against a public body or any of its members who have been found to have committed a willful violation of the OML, not to exceed $1,000 total fine for any meeting. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(d).

2. Time limits for filing appeals

3. Contact of interested amici

Briefs of amicus curiae may be filed with the written consent of all parties, or upon leave of the Supreme Court on motion which identified the interest of the applicant and the reasons for brief. Rhode Island Supreme Court Rule of Appellate Procedure 16(f).

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press often files amicus briefs in cases involving significant media law issues before a state's highest court.

V. Asserting a right to comment

A. Is there a right to participate in public meetings?

B. Must a commenter give notice of intentions to comment?

C. Can a public body limit comment?

Presumably not. However, the OML allows the removal of any person who willfully disrupts a meeting to the extent that orderly conduct of the meeting is seriously compromised. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(d).